Hollywood man purposely lit victim on fire, severely burning him, police say

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A Hollywood man is facing charges including attempted murder after police said he lit another man on fire Friday, causing him severe burns.

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Police said Jesus Montes de Oca, 74, was arrested at his home in the 800 block of South Southlake Drive.

From his bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, police said the victim told a detective that Montes de Oca threw an “unknown accelerant” on him and lit him ablaze.

According to an arrest report, the victim suffered second-degree burns.

Montes de Oca, for his part, claimed that the victim “had applied rubbing alcohol to himself” and “attempted to assist (him) by trying to wipe the fire from him and extinguish the flames,” but the victim “would not allow him” to help, the report stated.

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The report doesn’t state how the two men know each other or what led to the incident.

Besides the attempted murder charge, Montes de Oca faces a charge of criminal solicitation or conspiracy.

As of Monday morning, he was being held without bond in the Broward Main Jail, records show.

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